Renewed: How we re-use garments to tackle waste
Is there such a thing as sustainable fashion? That’s a question we ask ourselves a lot.
The truth is, the most sustainable jacket is the one that doesn’t get made. So how can we, as a company that makes and sells snow sports gear, stitch that idea into what we do?
The key is pushing for the most durable products possible. Garments that are made to last with timeless design, and that can be repaired or refurbished when needed. For us, “Renewed" means avoiding new clothes getting made unnecessarily.
“Renewed” means collaboration between every team along the supply chain, from product development all the way through to quality control, to make sure that durability and reparability are key.
Taking that a step further, by incorporating recycled materials, we reduce the amount of raw material extracted in the first place.
We’ve all got to act, otherwise the industry’s global emissions are predicted to rise 50% by 2030[1].
We’ve been following these strands to find ways to cut our environmental impact, and our Renewed program is just part of that. Launched in 2021, it cuts waste by giving our products a new life.
Let’s dig in.
Linear vs. circular economies
For too long clothing producers have used a linear “take-make-waste” model where raw materials are extracted and products made with little thought given to what happens after a product is used.
A circular model tries to keep materials in a loop. It focuses on durable products that stay usable for a long time, and made in a way that enables you to give a garment a second life by mending it when it wears, like fixing a broken zipper or broken button.
That’s what Renewed is about. Even though we can’t go all the way back to raw materials with clothes, bringing more circularity into the way we work is the key.
Renewed is our way of giving garments a second life: repaired, cleaned and ready to be used again instead of going to waste.
How Renewed came to life
From the start, partnerships were the key. For North-America, we found Tersus Solutions as the perfect fit. Already trailblazers of sustainability in the textile world, the company’s waterless cleaning and waterproofing technologies are designed for outdoor apparel. In Europe and the rest of the world, we partner with RecoMended, whose focus is on collecting, sorting, repairing and refreshing used garments.
Both companies have track records helping businesses set up effective reuse and recycling programs. They handle the washing, waterproofing, repairs and quality checks, making sure that every item is ready to be used again. We photograph, catalog and analyze product damage, sharing the insights with designers and manufacturers so we can fix common issues and constantly improve durability and reparability.
What does this mean for you and the environment?
Sustainability
Every Renewed garment means one less new jacket produced, cutting waste and resource use.
Quality
All items meet the same high standards as new gear, even if they have been through repairs.
Affordability
Gear that’s ready for more adventures, at lower prices than buying new.
Continuous improvement:
Every repair teaches us something new about making our products last longer.
Renewed offers three categories of items:
Great
Fully wearable, almost like new, no significant visible flaws.
Good
Wearable with minor flaws, such as small stains or visible repairs, possibly washed once or twice.
Pre-loved and visible repairs
Well-used, showing more evident wear and tear or visible repairs, still functional and ready for use.
Renewed gives you the gear you need to chase epic moments, without breaking the planet or the bank. By choosing these garments, you're taking action to preserve the slopes that fuel your passion, and every run becomes part of something bigger.
Oh… one more thing, alongside Renewed, we also offer options to repair and renew your older gear… check this out:
References
- Reported by Earth.Org
